Steven Gerrard has announced his international retirement, leaving Wayne
Rooney and Joe Hart among the candidates to take over the England captaincy

With Steven Gerrard announcing his international retirement with immediate effect on Monday afternoon, it leaves a big question for head coach Roy Hodgson: who should be the next England captain?

The Liverpool midfielder was named national team skipper in the lead up to the 2012 European Championships.

And now that he has hung up his boots for the Three Lions, after 114 caps, it leaves Hodgson with a big decision to make as he prepares for the next European Championships, in France in two years time.

The early favourites to take the captain's armband will be as follows, but who gets your vote?

Wayne Rooney The Manchester United striker burst on to the international scene as a teenager, sparkling at Euro 2004. He scored four goals at that tournament and has been England's great hope for a decade. The Manchester United forward will be 29 in October, and has scored 40 goals in 95 internationals. However, he has never been named club captain at Old Trafford, though he has taken the armband on occasions. And in the recent World Cup many called for his exclusion from the side.

Joe Hart Manchester City's goalkeeper has been a mainstay for England, since ousting the aging David James in Fabio Capello's reign. The 27-year-old now has 43 international caps, though few would name him one of the best stoppers in the world after a season in which he was dropped by his club side. Similarly to Rooney, he has not been his domestic side's captain, either.

Jack Wilshere Following in the footsteps of Rooney, the Arsenal midfielder carried the hopes of the nation when he impressed in his first international outings as an 18-year-old. That was back in 2010, though, and he has only made 20 appearances in that time for England, thanks to injuries and loss of form. Now 22, Wilshere has been in the public eye recently, having been spotted smoking while on a post-World Cup hoilday in Las Vegas with Hart.

Gary Cahill The Chelsea centre-back is commanded by former England captain John Terry at club level, though he was deputy skipper at Bolton Wanderers before a £7-million move in January 2012. The 28-year-old may only have 27 caps, but he is likely to be one of the first names on Hodgson's teamsheet in the next couple of years.

Jordan Henderson The Liverpool defensive midfielder was one of England's few positives in the World Cup, despite the fact that the 24-year-old has only 13 caps for England. Last year he captained the England under-21 side at the 2013 Uefa European Under-21 Football Championship. He would be a bold choice, and as he showed with this squad for Brazil Hodgson is not frightened of making a tough call and backing youth to shine.